TESTING PROBLEMS: Local, state ISTEP+ scores released

September 19, 2013

WHITLEY COUNTY â€” Despite testing difficulties and internet connection issues, ISTEP+ results have been released for local schools.

The testing, which occurred earlier this year, was fraught with problems for students who took it online.

Test-takers had difficulty connecting to the server, and at other times, students would be kicked off of the testing website at random.

Smith-Green Community Schools did not have the same problem. Superintendent Galen Mast said the district decided to conduct the test with traditional pencil and paper. School officials were not sure if the internet connection for the district was reliable.

Fort Wayne Community Schools officially voted to denounce the results as inaccurate. Whitley County Consolidated Schools Superintendent Pat Oâ€™Connor said there was no way to be certain how valid the results were, given the testing conditions.

SGCS plans to use internet testing in 2014, but this yearâ€™s results were not affected by internet connection issues.

Nevertheless, the state department of education released results this week.

WCCS

For WCCS, the elementary schools had mixed results compared to the previous year.

At Coesse Elementary School, English scores were up two points in third grade and up three points in fifth grade to 88 in each, but fourth grade scored 87, down two points from 2012.

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